Compare towns
Hatfield vs Plainfield vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Buckland has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hatfield | Plainfield | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
15,141Highest |
2,036Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.5±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$82,877±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$321,400±$25k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,111±$213Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,761 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckland and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Plainfield School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Plainfield High School | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.3Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.